North Carolina DMV Practice Test 2026

1. Because it's simply a tradition with no safety purpose
2. Because school buses always outrank emergency vehicles
3. Because children may be crossing in front of or behind it
4. Because the bus driver controls all nearby traffic lights

Correct answer: Because children may be crossing in front of or behind it. Children boarding or leaving a bus can be hidden from an approaching driver's view directly in front of or behind the bus. Stopping protects them from being struck while crossing.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, Ch3/Sharing the Road-School Buses, p.97

1. The road must not have had anything interesting to look at
2. This is completely normal and has nothing to do with fatigue
3. The vehicle's cruise control was steering on its own
4. A brief microsleep, a few seconds of unintentionally nodding off

Correct answer: A brief microsleep, a few seconds of unintentionally nodding off. Extreme drowsiness can cause a microsleep, a brief lapse of a few seconds where a driver unintentionally nods off without fully realizing it, which can explain not remembering the last stretch of road.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, Drowsy Driving, p.35

1. 0.08
2. 0.10
3. 0.04
4. 0.05

Correct answer: 0.08. A BAC of 0.08 or above counts as legal proof that a driver's ability was impaired for purposes of a DWI charge in North Carolina.

Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.33, blood alcohol concentration standard

1. Nothing at all - only crashes that involve an injury ever legally need to be reported
2. File a written crash report with the state motor vehicle agency within about 10 days
3. Wait a full 30 days to see if the other driver involved files a claim first
4. Only report it to the state if a lawyer specifically advises them to do so

Correct answer: File a written crash report with the state motor vehicle agency within about 10 days. Most states require drivers to self-report a crash above a certain damage threshold within about 10 days when police did not investigate the scene.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Financial Responsibility-Collisions on Your Record p.120 - 'you must report it to DMV within 10 days if...more than $1,000 in damage.'

1. Only vehicles over 26,000 pounds
2. Only the traffic following the bus
3. Traffic from both directions
4. No one, medians exempt everyone

Correct answer: Only the traffic following the bus. Once a physical median separates the directions on a four-or-more-lane road, only the traffic behind the bus is required to stop.

Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.49, divided highway with median

1. 18 years old
2. 15.5 years old
3. 16 years old
4. 14 years old

Correct answer: 16 years old. North Carolina allows a provisional license to be issued starting at 16 years old, once all permit-stage requirements are met.

1. It gives other drivers too little time to react.
2. It is fine as long as a signal was used at some point.
3. Drivers are required to signal only in the final moment.
4. Signaling early is against the law on busy roads.

Correct answer: It gives other drivers too little time to react.. Signaling and changing lanes only at the last second doesn't give nearby drivers enough time to notice and adjust, which raises the chance of a crash.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Turns p.62

1. The car going straight must yield to the car turning left
2. They should both proceed at the same time
3. The car turning left must yield to the car going straight
4. Whichever car is larger goes first

Correct answer: The car turning left must yield to the car going straight. A driver turning left must yield to a vehicle from the opposite direction that is going straight through the intersection.

Source: New York Driver Handbook, PDF p.34, driver that turns left must yield to traffic that moves straight

1. There is no limit
2. None at all, ever
3. One
4. Three

Correct answer: One. The general rule limits an unsupervised Level Two driver to one passenger under 21 who isn't a member of their own household, with a narrow school-related exception.

Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.15, passenger limitation

1. No closer than 10 feet
2. There is no distance restriction
3. Right next to it is fine
4. No closer than 100 feet

Correct answer: No closer than 100 feet. North Carolina sets a minimum buffer around a responding vehicle helping at a wreck: parking any nearer than 100 feet to it is against the law.

Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.51, parking distance from emergency vehicle

1. 10 classroom hours, no behind-the-wheel hours
2. 30 classroom hours and 6 behind-the-wheel hours
3. 6 classroom hours and 30 behind-the-wheel hours
4. There is no set hour requirement

Correct answer: 30 classroom hours and 6 behind-the-wheel hours. The course required before the permit test combines at least 30 hours of classroom instruction with 6 hours of behind-the-wheel practice.

Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.14/16, driver education requirement

1. Right at the edge of the crosswalk itself
2. At the stop line, not inside or past the crosswalk
3. Anywhere before the intersection is acceptable
4. In the middle of the crosswalk for better visibility

Correct answer: At the stop line, not inside or past the crosswalk. When a stop line is marked before a crosswalk, a driver must stop at that line rather than pulling forward into the crosswalk, which keeps the crossing area clear for pedestrians.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Traffic Controls-Crosswalks, p.35 (2020 handbook PDF)

1. Stop completely, just as you would at a stop sign
2. Speed up, since flashing yellow means the light is broken and can be ignored
3. Slow down and proceed carefully; no full stop is required
4. Wait for it to turn solid green before proceeding

Correct answer: Slow down and proceed carefully; no full stop is required. A flashing yellow signal only requires drivers to slow down and proceed with caution; unlike a flashing red, it does not require a complete stop.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.42, Flashing Yellow: proceed with caution, you do not need to stop

1. True
2. False

Correct answer: False. In North Carolina, a general statewide ban on holding a phone to talk while driving is: False. Hands-free rules can still differ from texting rules.

1. A hospital or urgent care center located nearby
2. A gas station or fuel stop located just off the road
3. An active road construction zone up ahead
4. A park, historic site, or other recreational area

Correct answer: A park, historic site, or other recreational area. Brown signs direct drivers to parks, historic sites, and other recreational or cultural destinations.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, PDF p.54, Brown: areas of public recreation, cultural and historical significance

1. A regulatory rule that you are required to follow
2. Direction and distance information, such as exits
3. A hazard located directly ahead
4. Available services such as gas or food

Correct answer: Direction and distance information, such as exits. Green signs give guide information such as directions, exits, and distances to help you navigate; they are not enforceable rules.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, PDF p.54, Green: guide or directional information

1. Calling a friend to chat
2. Calling a parent or legal guardian about an emergency
3. Posting on social media
4. Taking a quick photo of the road ahead for social media

Correct answer: Calling a parent or legal guardian about an emergency. The exception list covers emergency-related calls, including to a parent, legal guardian, or spouse, along with 911 and other emergency services.

Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.14, emergency exception list

1. The driver and passengers, as defined by the state's seat belt law
2. Only the driver behind the wheel, no matter who else is riding along
3. Only front-seat occupants, never anyone riding in the back seat
4. Only passengers under the age of 12 sitting anywhere in the vehicle

Correct answer: The driver and passengers, as defined by the state's seat belt law. Seat belt laws generally require both the driver and covered passengers to buckle up, though the exact scope (all seats vs. front only) can vary by state.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Occupant Protection-Seat Belts p.27 - 'You and your passengers must wear seat belts...You can get a ticket if you do not.'

1. 15.5 years old
2. 15 years old
3. 18 years old
4. 16 years old

Correct answer: 16 years old. After meeting the permit-holding period and other requirements, a young driver in North Carolina can be issued a provisional license at 16 years old.

1. Speed up before the lane disappears
2. Stop completely and wait for a gap
3. Be ready to merge safely into the remaining lane
4. Ignore it, since it is just informational

Correct answer: Be ready to merge safely into the remaining lane. This sign warns that your lane is ending ahead, so you should be ready to merge safely into the remaining lane before it disappears.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.36-37, lane reduction warning signs

1. On an adult's lap in front
2. In the front seat, always
3. In the rear seat
4. Standing between the front seats

Correct answer: In the rear seat. With a front air bag active and a rear seat available, a child under 5 and under 40 pounds generally belongs in the back, unless the restraint is rated for front-seat air bag use.

Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.45, rear-seat placement rule

1. Pulling into a safe place and taking a short nap
2. Turning the air conditioning to its coldest setting
3. Playing loud music for the rest of the trip
4. Opening all the windows at highway speed

Correct answer: Pulling into a safe place and taking a short nap. Unlike tricks such as cold air, loud music, or an open window, pulling into a safe area and taking a short nap actually addresses the underlying drowsiness rather than just masking it temporarily.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, Drowsy Driving, p.36

1. A lane reserved permanently only for city buses
2. A center lane whose direction changes by time of day
3. A lane that is always closed to all traffic
4. A lane used only for police and emergency vehicles

Correct answer: A center lane whose direction changes by time of day. A reversible lane changes its direction of travel at set times of day, for example toward the city in the morning and away in the evening, to help handle rush-hour traffic; always check the overhead signal before entering.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, PDF p.54, Reversible Lanes: direction of traffic is normally reversed at set times

1. The same 1-2 second gap used for any other vehicle
2. At least a 4-second gap, more so in poor conditions
3. No specific distance since motorcycles stop quickly
4. Right behind them so they can see you in the mirror

Correct answer: At least a 4-second gap, more so in poor conditions. Because a motorcyclist braking hard or being thrown from the bike needs extra room, drivers should allow at least a 4-second following distance, increasing it in bad weather or on poor road surfaces.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Sharing the Road-Motorcycles, p.88 (2020 handbook PDF): "Allow a 4 second following distance"

1. 1 second
2. 5 seconds
3. 2 seconds
4. 6 seconds

Correct answer: 2 seconds. In North Carolina, the handbook recommends counting at least 2 seconds between when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point and when you reach the same point.